Monday, October 09, 2006
Dental Confusion
I went to the dentist about a year ago for a cleaning & check-up and he told me that I had 3 cavities and that one of my molars would need a crown & possible root canal soon. I was shocked by this seeing as I've only had 3 cavities since I was 6. We don't have dental insurance and the expense was going to be out of control, so I waited. About a month ago that tooth that needed the crown started to hurt all of the time. I knew I needed to get in there and get it fixed, but how to pay? Jed called a dentist he knew and fixed up a trade for countertops. So I went to this new dentist. He was the NICEST guy and seemed to be a good dentist, but his equipment was way out of date. Like the mustard yellow lights that looked taped together and the old-school x-ray's that they point at your mouth. Anyways, he came back and said my teeth look great - I have no cavities and all I have to do for the tooth that is hurting is brush with sensidyne toothpaste & flouride ($14). Could it be? I have been using the toothpaste and flouride and I have no more pain in my teeth. How can 2 dentists have such different outcomes? I'm hoping it's not the out-of-date equipment. What would you do?
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8 comments:
WEIRD!! That's really bizarre. It's hard to know what to think about that. I guess it's good that your tooth doesn't hurt anymore. That's a good sign.
That's funny because about 6 months ago I went to get a checkup and I went to a new dentist because I had a coupon for free teeth whitening. While I was in the waiting room this lady was having a knockdown-dragout with the receptionist because she was mad about something the dentist promised her (concerning her daughter's whitening), and the receptionist was refusing to let her talk to the him. I was like, hmmmm. Then when he was cleaning my teeth the tool thing kept shorting out. The dentist told me I had like SIX cavities and I've never had one in my life. I know it's possible, of course, but it was shocking and saddening to me. He acted like my teeth were totally falling apart. Then I asked about the whitening, and they said I could get it AFTER I got everything fixed. It all seemed very suspicious and I couldn't decide what to do. My insurance pays for 1 checkup every 6 months, and I didn't want to pay for a second opinion, so I've just done nothing about it for 6 months. It's finally time for another checkup and I'll be interested to see what a new dentist says. Maybe I should go to your guy!
Dentists always seem like they're trying to weasle money out of you. I have a cavity in every molar, so I'm never surprised by news of a new one. So was that guy being honeset because of the trade? Or maybe he's just a decent guy. If you're tooth doesn't hurt anymore, that's probably all that counts!
I would get a second opinion. Go to Dr. Rowell. He's a family friend and very honest. That's who we go to. We have to pay out of pocket because we don't have dental insurance anymore and he's awesome. Just go in and say you just got your teeth cleaned but want a second opinion and it shouldn't be that much. I would be suspicious though. It's scary to let a tooth get too bad if you've been told you might need a root canal though.
I've been to Dr. Rowell and he's the one who screwed up my roots on my molars. That's why my teeth were so sensitive because he put fillings right next to my roots. He used to be in our old ward - it's who my mom goes to too. How do you know him?
Duh - I just assumed that he was friends with the Sampsons, but it's probably because Ike and Andy were such good friends. I'm a little slow...
Jaime - I would totally trust the new guy - he sounds decent and honest & your teeth don't hurt anymore, that should be the test. I really like Dr. Rowell, but I have to say I don't totally trust him. I've spent alot of $$$ in there and he keeps telling me I need all this work. He wants to replace the bridge I have on the bottom and has told me twice I need it done, but the reason's for why I need another one has changed. Interesting!
Mand - find a new dentist STAT!!
Does the dentist still get a trade? If all he trades is a check-up, that won't pay for much. It would seem that his motivation would be to find some things to fix so he could have a good trade. I can't believe a dentist would tell you that a root canal and crown is needed if it really isn't. Somebody isn't very honest!
ummm... hey Zak, maybe you should be a dentist...
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